MAY 25TH

Today in the Revolution ...

The Constitutional Convention convenes in Philadelphia with the prestige of George Washington presiding.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK

You may be too cunning for One, but not for All.

— Benjamin Franklin,1750

AMERICANREVOLUTION.ORG

"Stony Point,
July 17, 1779

SIR,

I have the honour of giving you a full and
particular relation of the reduction of this point, by the light
infantry under my command.

On the 15th instant at 12 o'clock, we took
up our line of march, from Sandy beach, distant 14 miles from
this place. The road being exceedingly bad and narrow, and having
to pass over high mountains, through deep morasses and difficult
defiles, we were obliged to move in single defile the greatest
part of the way. At eight o'clock in the evening, the van arrived
at Mr. Springsteel's, within one and a half miles of the enemy,
and formed into columns as fast as they came up, agreeable to
the order of battle annexed; viz. Col. Febiger's and Meig's regiments,
with Major Hull's detachment, formed the right column; Col. Butler's
regiment and Major Murfree's two companies, the left. The troops
remained in this position until several of the principal officers,
with myself, had returned from reconnoitering the works. Half
after 11 o'clock, being the time fixed upon, the whole moved
forward, the van of the right consisting of 150 volunteers, properly
officered, who advanced, with unloaded musquets, and fixed bayonets,
under the command of Lieut. Col. Fleury; these were preceded
by twenty picked men and a vigilant and brave officer, to remove
the abbatis and other obstructions. The van of the left, consisting
of 100 volunteers, under the command of Major Steward, with unloaded
musquets and fixed bayonets, also preceded by a brave and determined
officer, with twenty men, for the same purpose as the other.

At twelve o'clock the assault was to begin
on the right and left flanks of the enemy's works, while Major
Murfree amused them in front; but a dead morass covering their
whole front, and at this time overflowed by the tide, together
with other obstructions, rendered the approaches more difficult
than were at first apprehended, so that it was about 20 minutes
after twelve before the assault began, previous to which I placed
myself at the head of Febiger's regiment, of eight columns, and
gave the troops the most pointed orders not to fire upon any
account, but place their dependence on the bayonet, which order
was faithfully obeyed. --Neither the deep morass,the formidable
and double rows of abbatis, or the strong works in front and
flank, could damp the ardour of the troops, who in the face of
most tremendous and incessant fire of musquetry, and from cannon
loaded with grape-shot, forced their way at the point of the
bayonet, through every obstacle, both columns meeting in the
center of the enemy's works, nearly at the same instant.